The Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead’s
Annual Plant Sale is This Saturday!
The News is All Over Town!
Category: Uncategorized
Art in Bloom 2022
On Friday April 29th, members of the Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead traveled to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston to the annual Art in Bloom festival. Members Ginny von Rueden and Laurie Boggis created a fantastic flower arrangement reflecting the colors and design intricacies of this exquisite tapestry.
What a Great Job!
Other favorites are shown below – be sure to click on photo to enlarge and get the full effect!
These photos courtesy of Andrea Gregory.
This is how we Dig and Divide!
In preparation for our annual Plant Sale on May 7, 2022, members of the Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead grab their tools and head out to their gardens. We have several local ‘host’ gardens where members carefully divide various varieties of perennials. We dig them, split into smaller sections, and then repot each plant in fresh potting soil. Members clean up the host garden bed and replenish the soil. Then each member takes several plants home to water and nurture until the sale.
Please join us on Saturday, May 7th from 8:30 to 11:30 AM at the Masonic Hall, 62 Pleasant Street, Marblehead. Come meet the DGC members and learn about the plants you purchase. Also for sale are orchids, annuals, and other flowering plants perfect for Mother’s Day gifts!
Divide and Conquer!
The Driftwood Garden Club’s April ’22 meeting was well attended at Abbot Public Library as well as on Zoom. Featured presenter was long-time DGC Civic Committee Chair Lisa Biggio, a Master Gardener and Horticultural Therapist. Lisa provided educational handouts, tools, and plenty of Sansevieria (now in genus Dracaena) plants for us to divide and replant in this hands-on meeting.
Lisa’s Tips to Divide & Conquer…
Divide perennials to make healthier plants in our garden:
- Divide when a plant looks good.
- Start digging at the drop line.
- Divide in cool weather.
- Keep roots cool and moist.
- Replenish soil with organic matter.
- Use vigorous sections first.
- Take extra care when plant is in bloom.
- Keep only the healthiest pieces.
- Spread out your divisions.
- Let the roots be your guide.
These are a few of our favorite things!
Yes, Lisa has a favorite potting soil by Pro-Mix. Look for a high-quality soil mix containing peatmoss and perlite for moisture retention.
Here are Lisa’s favorite tools, which she cleans and disinfects with a mild bleach solution or “green” citrus cleaner after each use.
Opening a can of worms…
We continue to educate ourselves on invasive Asian jumping worms which have been identified here in Massachusetts. Jumping worms deplete the topsoil of nutrients and moisture. Lisa’s handout had good information and listed resources for additional material. The garden club will have a Master Gardener on hand at the plant sale to answer questions.
Next week starts Driftwood Garden Club’s big effort to dig and divide in host gardens around Marblehead as a source of plants for the plant sale. We are getting ready for the Plant Sale! See you on Saturday, May 7 from 8:30-11:30 AM at the Masonic Hall, 62 Pleasant Street, Marblehead!
Mindfulness in the Garden!
In March 2022, members of the Driftwood Garden Club walked down a different garden path (figuratively!) with our guest speaker Michele Frank Schuckel. Michele, who is a registered nurse, a mindfulness coach, and a master gardener, described gardening as a mindful activity. She touched on the things we can control and the things we can’t control, and gave us useful suggestions to practice. Among the many wellness choices for longevity and health for gardeners, we should strive to cultivate connections; exercise; grow and eat a rainbow of foods; hydrate; and rest. She says, “feed your plants and your purpose.”
Wellness is health in mind and body. Wellness is having the tools to navigate the ups and downs of life. Wellness is self-compassion, and compassion for others. Wellness is being present in your life.
Ms. Schuckel suggests we all cultivate an attitude of gratitude with ourselves, with each other, and in our gardens!
Residential Design: Try This at Home
At the beginning of the design or redesign of the landscape around your house, take pictures. They will give you a far more accurate perspective of your site than studying it in real time. At the end, keep and catalogue the tags from the plant material installed so you won’t have to guess when adding material to foundation plantings in the future. These were just two of Laura Bibler’s many suggestions for the Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead members attending the February 17 program, Residential Design: Try This at Home.
Bibler, who started her West Newbury-based business, In the Garden, 22 years ago, attracted 32 attendees to her presentation, including 5 members from the public. A write-up in the print edition of The Marblehead Reporter and a flyer posted by Abbot Library in their foyer likely also helped boost attendance, in addition to ongoing social media postings.
A running theme of the evening was getting a fresh perspective on the existing area and devising a concept, plan, and installation approach that harmonized with the context and physical characteristics of surrounding landscape. For example, the front, back, and two end areas of a typical house will require plants with differing sun and shade tolerance.
President Susan Smith announced to the membership that the upcoming March 14 program, Healthy Gardeners: Mindfulness in the Garden, will be presented live at the library as well as on Zoom. Good news!
Designing Shady Retreats!
Many thanks to Joan Butler of Enchanted Gardens for the Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead’s well-attended January 2022 presentation on Zoom. Joan’s presentation of ‘Designing Shady Retreats’ has a wealth of ideas for those dappled spots in our yards.
Joan recommends many design techniques:
- Make a color connection and choose companion plants with similar colors, or use companions on the opposite side of the color wheel.
- Add balance to the design with fine textures, a variety of plant sizes, and use of solid foliage to offset variegated foliage.
- Use layering and repetition to draw the eye to a focal point in the garden. Joan says, ‘where the eye leads, the feet will follow.’
- Include rocks in the garden with a water feature, and to offer seating, and sense of structure.
- Group plants in masses to be noticed from a distance.
Joan Butler has been an enthusiastic gardener for over 30 years and believes gardens should invite you to linger in the world outside your door. Please visit Enchanted Garden Design’s website at enchantedgardendesign.com for additional information on their design, speaking engagements, and guided tours of gardens and nurseries.
Ribbons and Bows Oh My!
Armed with ribbons & bows, pinecones, whimsical garnishes, and hot glue guns, members of the Driftwood Garden Club recently decorated 40 fresh balsam wreaths and 15 swags which are donated to the Marblehead Council on Aging. The COA delivers these freshly-festooned greens to local seniors who live alone and enjoy the creative touches of holiday cheer.
Established in 1952 as a volunteer, non-profit organization, the Driftwood Garden Club maintains the Abbot Public Library gardens and provides educational opportunities in gardening and support of the environment, as well as spreading cheer through holiday wreaths to the Council on Aging!
Wreaths for Seniors – New Date!
Due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict at the Community Center, our wreath making workshop has been moved to Wednesday, December 8th.
Winter Wow at the Abbot Library!
Members of the Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead returned to the Abbot Library for our first indoor event since March 2020. Library Director Kim Grad enthusiastically welcomed over 50 DGC members and guests back to the library meeting room. Members enjoyed a lovely assortment of treats provided by hostesses Pal Bickford, Pinar Gokce, and Silte McGlaughlin as everyone chatted and reconnected.
President Susan Smith announced to the membership that Charlene Carpenter, a longtime member of the DGC has been made an Honorary Member for her many contributions to the club. Charlene is our third honorary member. Congratulations Charlene!
Members who could not attend in person were given the option of Zooming in to the presentation part of the meeting, thanks to Kim who helped us use a new piece of library equipment. Six members zoomed in from as far away as New York!
Deborah Trickett from the Captured Garden presented a fabulous talk aptly named “Winter Wow: Beautiful Containers for the Winter Months”. The timing was perfect as Deborah showed slides of some gorgeous containers – just in time for the holidays!
Some of Deborah’s tips include:
- Try using a theme for your creations: silver and white look amazing!
- Consider whether your containers will be viewed from afar or close up: here the red twig dogwood branches are arranged close together for impact.
- Use fresh greens that will last from December till March: noble fir, boxwood, cedar and arborvitae are good choices.
- Don’t be afraid of accenting with artificial berries or fruit: the birds won’t eat them!
All photos courtesy of Deborah Trinkett at The Captured Garden.
Driftwood Garden Club 